HL Deb 18 September 1972 vol 335 cc719-21

3.2 p.m.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in commissioning the Metra Consulting Group to study the movement of passengers and baggage through Heathrow airport in the short and medium term they ascertained what means would be found of obtaining opinions of passengers themselves in addition to the taking of random samples of interviews.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, the use of random samples is a widely accepted method of obtaining representative views. I should of course be interested to hear of any other ways of doing this which the noble Baroness may care to suggest.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, I am about to suggest one now. Is the Minister aware that what I am really concerned about at this particular moment is the inconvenience caused to travellers should the present check-in facilities at Gloucester Road be withdrawn? In view of the Minister's reply and so that all points of view might be considered, would he feel able to give the House an assurance that your Lordships' Hansards dealing with the Questions and Answers on this particular matter will be laid before the Metra Consulting Group, if this has not already been done?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I did think that the noble Lady's particular concern was the closure of the West London Air Terminal. I have given her an assurance, which I am entirely happy to repeat, that if she wishes to make any particular representations and pass them on to me, I will see they are passed on to the Metra Consulting Group. I will also see that they have the copies of Hansard which she has mentioned.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

I am most grateful.

LORD HARVEY OF PRESTBURY

My Lords, would my noble friend take into account that only 10 days ago it was something like an hour from the time the aeroplane landed before the baggage was available to take away, and that the explanation given by some officials—not all—is that because of the possible closure of the West London Terminal they are not taking on extra staff at London Airport because of possible redundancies occurring next year? I should like to ask whether passengers will have to suffer for another eight or nine months in this way, and cannot something be done about it?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, with respect to my noble friend, something is being done. The whole purpose of this study is to reduce the length of time passengers have to spend at the Airport and to make their stay there as convenient as possible. I should like to re-emphasise that this is not primarily a cost-cutting or staff-cutting exercise: it is one peculiarly orientated to passengers.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, may I just ask the noble Earl whether he is aware—I am sure this will be of interest to the House—that sometimes we in this House can produce influence? Is he aware (this is an example of what I am saying) that when I came back to Heathrow last week I was met and I am very grateful about this, though I am not enlarging upon that—and never in my life have I seen so many trolleys at the Airport? Is the noble Earl further aware that I saw two porters—and there may well have been more—actually wheeling in stacks of these trolleys, and that I said I hoped this would continue?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I am so glad to hear that the noble Baroness found plenty of trolleys. I told her that this was one of the points that was being dealt with, and I am glad to see that it has been dealt with so expeditiously. The noble Baroness obviously has great influence in these matters, and if it is not a discourtesy I would suggest that she should go out to Heathrow Airport again—and, of course, return—as frequently as possible. Perhaps this would be one other means of encouraging further efforts.

LORD TREFGARNE

My Lords, can the noble Earl say whether the passengers at Heathrow who are being interrogated have checked in at Heathrow or at the West London Terminal?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, in all about 1,200 passengers will be interrogated. Between the three buildings, which is 400 per building, 200 will be passengers coming into the country and 200 will be passengers going out of the country. I have no doubt that of that number some will have checked in at the West London Air Terminal.

LORD WYNNE-JONES

My Lords, can the noble Earl tell us whether the inquiry is to be restricted to Heathrow, or will it include the West London Air Terminal?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, the inquiry relates to Heathrow, but the Metra Consulting Group are, the noble Lord will not be surprised to hear, aware of the problem which the closing of the West London Air Terminal, if it is carried out, will present. This will be particularly reinforced, after they have read the copies of Hansard in which your Lordships have expressed concern.